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Free parking eliminated from library during work hours

After Lois Frankel won a fight against opponents who wanted to keep the library at the waterfront, the mayor has boasted about her success — the new library at City Center won “library of the year” in the Broward/Palm Beach New Times “Best Of” awards with four floors of books, magazines, movies and music.

So the last thing Frankel wants is a decrease in attendance, which is a possibility now that the commission eliminated parking validation. Patrons who drive to the library during work hours now must spend $1 for the first two hours at the city garage.

The change took place last week after the 2010-11 budget went into effect. Commissioners, looking to cut the budget wherever possible, took away the free validation. Frankel said people were taking advantage by parking at the garage, going to the courthouse and then swinging by the library for validation.

The city is still offering two free hours of parking Monday-Thurs from 5pm-8:30 p.m. and two free hours on Saturdays. The city provides free parking on Sundays.

“We haven’t seen (a decrease) yet, but we’re watching it very carefully,” Frankel said on Thursday. “It’s probably the most popular venue in the city so we’re going to watch it carefully.

“If we see a decrease, I’ll talk to commissioners about it. What we’re finding is people didn’t realize how cheap the parking was, and when they’re finding out they only to spend $1, they so ‘no big deal.’ So far, really and truly, our library usage just goes up and up.”